Form clamp



Aug. 8, 1939.

H. P. NEPTUNE FORM CLAMP Filed Sept. 7, 1937 2 Sheets$heet l WEE/WAN )0 N5 TUNE,

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Aug. 8, 1939. H, p NEPTUNE I 2,168,714

FORM CLAMP Filed Sept. 7, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fi/EQMA/v P NEPTUA/E,

INVENTOR- ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITE srA'rss TENT OFEQE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to form clamps.

Form clamps of the character contemplated by this invention have more particularly to do with the proper spacing of sheathing, between pairs of which sheathing material is adapted to be poured, such as the well known concrete.

Ordinarily, in construction practice, sheathing together with studding and waling, is utilized, together with some means for spacing the sheathing. The inventor is aware that numerous characters and types of form clamps have been placed on the market for this purpose, but so far as the inventor is aware, prior to this invention, no simple form clamp has been devised which effectively holds the sheathing spaced apart a desired amount without the necessity of some medium or means lying between the sheathing.

With the present invention, all adjustment of the sheathing for spacing the same to obtain parallelism or angular relationship is effected by external adjustment, easy of contact by an operator or an erector of the forms. With the present invention, it is possible to adjust any given area or zone of the sheathing to bring the same into parallelism. Ihis in and of itself is an important step because it often happens that sheathing does not maintain its true parallel arrangement at different zones, say adjacent the base of said sheathing, with the result that it is practically impossible to correct the sheathing to obtain parallelism. The present invention overcomes this defect, and no matter where lack of parallelism or proper angularity may occur, such defects may be readily corrected.

It is customary practice at the present time to vibrate concrete or cement after it has been poured in a form, in order to obtain density of the'packing. This vibration is, of course, communicated through the. concrete body to the sheathing and oftentimes causes a movement of said sheathing or causes the form clamps to be so vibrated as to loosen the same. When this occurs, the sheathing will lose its proper posi tion.

An object of the present invention is to overcome in a simple andeffective manner the de fects just mentioned.

A further object of the invention is the pro; .vision of a form clamp so constituted and arranged that the tie rod thereof may be removed from the poured concrete wall, where concrete is utilized, to the end that the hole left may be readily patched or filled with cement grout "through the medium of a pressure gun. This method readily fills the hole and results in a neat Waterproof job. Furthermore, the tie rod is not left in the concrete to rust.

Other objects of the invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains. The invention is simple of construction, inexpensive in cost of manufacture, and is readily adaptable for the use intended and does not require skilled labor to apply the clamps.

With the above mentioned and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, asso-' ciation, and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown in certain embodiments in the accompanying drawings, described generally, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, certain members being in section, of one form of my improved form clamp shown in position for maintaining sheathing, studding, and waling in position, with the concrete or other plastic material poured between said sheathing,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of an element of the face plateused in the invention depicted in Figures 1 and 2,

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, and on an enlarged scale from the showing of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, partially sectional View, showing the form clamp in position while holding sheathing at an angle to the vertical,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation and partly in section, of a further form of form clamp, the clamp engaging a unit 'studding,

Figure? is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of the arrow 1 of Figure 6,

Figure 8 illustrates use of that form of the invention shown in Figures 6 and '7 when the unit studding is at an angle to vertical,

, Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of a type of tie rod which may be utilized in practicing the invention of the form depicted in Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, and,

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the form clamp on unitary waling for the purpose of overcoming any tendency to twist or revolve when said waling is engaging studding.

Referring now with particularity to the drawings and that form of the invention best depicted in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, I have shown at I concrete which has been poured between sheathing 2 and 3. This sheathing as is usual practice, is made up of planks specially cut for molding purposes, and suitable means, such as studding designated generally by 4, is provided for holding the sheathing in position. For instance, the sheathing may be nailed to the studding in certain installations. Studding constitutes the vertical members applied to the outer face walls of the sheathing. Generally some form of wale is provided between two spaced studding members, such as shown in Figure 1 at 5 and 6..

In this figure under discussion, two parallel and separated wales l and 8 are provided. In order to hold the wales to the studding, it is necessary to provide suitable supports, such as shown at 9, and in the present instance, the support consists of a block which may be nailed or otherwise held to one of several of the studding or, as Figure 1 indicates, this block may assume the form of a frustum of a triangle, the frustum end of which, shown at I I], is adapted to carry an end piece II. The lowermost wale is supported on the end 16, between the end piece II and the studding. A lag screw I2 is passed through an opening in the support and secured to the studding 6. Quite naturally several of the supports would be utilized so that the wales would be properly maintained in position relative to the studding. This construction just outlined and for the side sheathing 2, would likewise apply to the side having sheathing 3.

In order to maintain the sheathing in position so that concrete or other material may be poured therebetween, I have provided that which constitutes one form of my present invention, to-wit, clamping means comprising a tie rod l3 whether used in the singular or plm'al sense adapted to cooperate with end plates M. The tie rod shown in Figure 2 is made in three parts [5, I3 and IT. The parts l5 and I? are provided with screwthreaded ends, the main shank of the tie rod being unthreaded and the tie rod I6 is provided with end sockets having threaded walls adapted to receive one of the threaded ends, of each member l5 and IT, as shown at l8 and I9. The opposite threaded ends of the members l5 and H are threaded, as shown for the member I! at 20.

The center member l6 of the tie rod may be provided with small ears 2! for the purpose of preventing turning of this member, all as more fully disclosed in the statement of the operation.

The endplate construction I4 is such as to provide a surface 22, which is substantially fiat and adapted to bear against edges of the wales, such as I and 8. The outer face of the end plate is provided with a series of reinforcing transverse ribs 23 to maintain rigidity of the plate, and said plate is formed with transverse bores at 24, 25, 26, 2l and 28. It will be noted that at the zone of said transverse bores, the plate is reinforced by encircling flanges or ribs. The central bore 28 is adapted to receive the threaded end 20 of the tie rod member I! and in this connection, the face plate is adapted to carry a swivel nut 29.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be seen that this swivel nut is formed with a curved or ball-like surface member 30 and with a hexagonal head 3|. The nut is likewise centrally bored and screw-threaded in part, as shown at 32, and counter-bored in part, as shown at 33. The counter-bored part faces what may be termed the bottom side of the plate, to the end that when the rod I1 is passed through the opening in the plate, it may enter the counter-sunk bore 33 of the nut before the threads thereof contact the threads 32 of said nut. This feature is of importance as it is an effective way to prevent starting the nut in a cross-threaded position. The average unskilled laborer, by the construction just mentioned, may place these plates in position for attachment to the tie rods without fear of damaging the threads, which would not be true if the nut was entirely threaded.

This nut is conveniently held to the face plate by having formed on the outer surface of the face plate castellated lugs which are adapted to be bent over the curved end 30 of the nut so that the nut may swivel within the confines of said castellated portion. In addition, the threaded end 20 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot, groove or kerf 34, and the said nut is also provided with a slot or groove, as shown in Figure 4 at 35 and 36.

The operation, uses and advantages of this form of the invention are as follows:

If we assume that the sheathing, studding and wales are in proper position, as are likewise the tie rods and the outer plates, one end of a tie rod member It may be brought to a flush condition with the outer surface of the nut, and in such position that a nail or the like 31 may be received between the two kerfs 34 and 35, so that the nut will not turn relative to the said member II. If now the opposite nut is rotated, naturally the member l5 of the tie rod will either project inwardly of the nut or outwardly thereof, to properly adjust the spacing of the sheathing. In actual practice, having determined the exact spacing between the inner wall surfaces of the sheathing, the outer end surfaces of the tie rods are brought flush with the outer surfaces of the nuts. Thus, uniform spacing may be maintained between the sheathing. When concrete or other substance is poured between the sheathing, the ears 2| will be received within the material so poured, and after a short period of time, this member IE will remain embedded within the concrete. Nevertheless, the members l5 and I! may be readily removed by leaving the nails, such as 31, betweenthe kerfs of both the nuts and the tie members, so that said members l5 and H,

respectively, may be unscrewed from the threaded arrangement, shown for instance at l8 and I9.

Ordinarily, when making an adjustment of the sheathing, one of the nails 31 is not employed, as is self-evident. The cross section of the face plate of Figure 2 is held conveniently to, the two wales by means of screws or other securing means passed through the openings 26 and 27. However, it is possible to hold the face plate in another manner, as depicted at the left hand side of Figure 2 and by Figure 4, wherein a rod carries a T-head 4|, which T-head is adapted to lie between the inner surfaces of the wales, the opposite end of the rod 40 being transversely slotted at 42, through which slot is passed a wedge 43. Thus, when the wedge is moved in one direction, the face plate operating in conjunction with the T-head 4i, securely clamps the two wales.

If it is desired to lock the nut'in any position relative to a tie rod member, this is conveniently accomplished through the use of a nail or other pin-like object M passed through a segmental opening in the ball head of the nut and between any two or three of the lugs forming the castellated portion of the face plate, as see Figure 4, at 45. This is advantageous when it is desired to use the pin or nail 31 and its method of interlocking a tie rod member with the nut.

Referring to Figure 5, I have illustrated the construction which I have described for the left side of Figure 2, the exception being that the sheathing and wales and studding, as illustrated, are inclined relative to a vertical plane. This construction is resorted to at times when it is desired that one wall or both wall surfaces of the poured concrete be inclined. The present in- Vention lends itself to such requirements, due to the castellated socket portion of the face plate and the swivel nut carried within said castellated socket.

Referring to the form of the invention depicted in Figures 6, '7, 8 and 10, I may with the form of tie clamp illustrated, secure a single wale or studding instead of securing two, as shown in the other figures. I may use the same form of tie rod or vary its construction, as illustrated in Figure 9.

Referring to Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, a clamp is shown ofthe angle type having two substantially right angular portions 6|! and BI, the portion 6| being bifurcated or in two parts, as shown at 62 and 63, with the inner facing portions of said two parts providing a divergent way, as shown at 64. This divergence is best explained by stating that the castellated socket construction shown for the face plate of Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, is used. This socket construction is partly included between the members and 6!. What would constitute the central opening 65, permitting entrance within the castellated socket, here designated as 66, is substantially at right angles to the face of the part 60 of the clamp, to

the end that when a tie rod member 61 is passed through said opening 65,'said tie rod will lie between the two members 62 and 63. Due to the convergence outwardly from the castellated socket of the sides 64, the tie rod may be moved to say the position shown in Figure 8 at 68. The nut of the type depicted in Figure 3 would be utilized for the construction shown, and the entire clamp would be operated substantially the same as for the form shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive. Also, the members 62 and 63 may be provided with transverse perforations through which doubleheaded nails may be passed for securing said clamp to a wale or studding.

Referring to Figure 10, it will be seen that in order to prevent the wale from rotating or in any wise twisting, that the clamps engage said wales alternately on opposite sides thereof, as indicated at 69,10 and.

Referring to Figure 9, the sheathing is shown at 12 and 13, which sheathing in turn has secured thereto and on the outer surface thereof, studding M and "I5, and to said studding is in turn secured a wale or a series of wales, as shown in Figure 1. The tie rod, in this case, is a single piece of straight rod that can be entirely removed from the concrete after the concrete has hardened.

It is felt that from the description previously given, the operation of the form of the invention just described will be clear to those skilled in this art, and that the operation of this form of the invention is the same as for the first form mentioned when it comes to adjusting the spacing 2. A tie rod clamp including two substantially c right angularly related flanges, one of which is bifurcated; the facing edges of said bifurcations being outwardly flared; a. socket member at the junction of the flanges, and a swivel nut within said socket member, a tie rod, said tie rod and nut being both formed for threaded engagement and the tie rod lying lengthwise of the flared slot; the relationship being such that the tie rod may be swung within the flared slot, the socket acting as a pivot point for the nut.

3. A tie rod clamp including a pair of substantially right angle flanges adapted to be secured to wales, one of said flanges being bifurcated, a socket member at the junction of said flanges and directed edgewise of the bifurcated flange, a ball nut within said socket member, and a tie rod threaded to the nut and lying lengthwise of the space formed by said bifurcation.

4. A tie rod clamp including a pair of substantially right angularly related flanges, a socket member at substantially the junction of said flanges; a ball nut formed with an eccentric groove, within said socket member; a tie rod threaded in said nut provided with an eccentric longitudinally extending groove which when in registry with the eccentric groove of the nut is adapted to receive therebetween a pin for locking the nut and tie rod in a given relative position.

HERMAN P. NEPTUNE. 

